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Trail Guides
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Alloway Creek Watershed Wetland Restoration Site
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5
 
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Money Island Rd., Elsinboro, NJ
Phone: (888) 627-7437
www.pseg.com/environment/estuary
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG)
Go back down Fort Elfsborg-Salem
Rd. and follow around the bend until you reach
the Stop sign. Turn Right onto CR 624/Fort
Elfsborg Rd. Proceed 1.7 miles and bear Right
onto Money Island Rd. Follow this road for 1 mile and there will be a parking area on the Right, and also a parking area at the end of the road. Map
Open daily from dawn to dusk. Two small parking areas on site.
In winter raptors can be seen soaring on the strong winds at this site, hunting the marsh and river. The uncommon Rough-legged Hawk is occasionally seen here. Large flocks of Snow Geese winter in the area and may occasionally fill the sky.
A variety of migrating shorebirds arrive at the marsh to begin their breeding season. The familiar kon-ka-ree of the Red-winged Blackbird is one of the first songs heard on the marsh. Great and Snowy Egret and Great Blue Heron arrive in late spring.
Active nesting birds are loudly defending their territories with song and Osprey fledglings can be heard plaintively begging their parents for food. Watch and listen for colorful Yellow Warblers, whose song often ends with a sweet sweet sweet ti ti ti to soo, or the energetic Marsh Wren dashing around in the tall grasses. Take precautions against biting insects, especially on days when there is no breeze.
The open skies around the marsh allow for good raptor migration viewing. A large bird silhouette may be seen at a great distance, and patience will be rewarded by tracking the bird as it approaches. The key is to keep your binoculars on the bird – even if your arms are aching! If you put them down, it is likely you will lose your sighting right into the clear blue sky.
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| Muskrat | Bill Garwood |
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This site features two well-maintained trails to viewing platforms, accessible from each of the two parking areas along Money Island Rd. The first trail goes west through marsh areas to a viewing platform near the Delaware River. A bird blind situated beside a small pond offers close views of wading birds. Another short trail from near the electrical towers leads to a platform bestowing magnificent views to the south and east. Both are elevated above the marsh so be sure to take a look down into the grasses along the water’s edge. This site is at the end of a point and is essentially surrounded by the Alloway Creek marsh. Because there is open river just to the west and upland habitat to the east, it attracts a variety of marsh, grassland and shorebirds, as well as other wildlife.
a careful scan of the line of electrical towers, which in fall and winter will offer resting and roosting spots to large birds of prey, and in spring and summer are likely to host Osprey nests.
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